Housing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 2140: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems, providing for limitation on water and wastewater rate increases.

HB 2140 limits water and wastewater rate increases for residential customers in Pennsylvania. It caps rate hikes at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the northeast region, preventing increases exceeding inflation. The bill also requires utilities to stop charging for completed infrastructure projects once costs are recovered and mandates that the Public Utility Commission prioritize service affordability over non-essential capital costs when reviewing rate cases. This directly affects residential households and water/wastewater utilities operating in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill caps water/wastewater rate increases for residential customers at CPI, reducing utility costs that directly impact housing affordability and prevent cost spikes for residents.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 11, 2025

HB 2098: An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for manufactured homes; consolidating the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act; establishing the Office of Manufactured Home Ombudsman, the position of Manufactured Home Ombudsman, the Manufactured Home Hearing Board and the Manufactured Home Restricted Account; imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development; and making a repeal.

HB 2098 establishes a new Office of Manufactured Home Ombudsman to help residents resolve disputes with community operators. It creates a Manufactured Home Hearing Board to handle formal disputes (like eviction cases) and sets up a Restricted Account for program funding. The bill consolidates existing manufactured home community laws under a single chapter and requires the Department of Community and Economic Development to oversee implementation. These changes apply to all Pennsylvania manufactured home communities - defined as sites with three or more homes for residential use - directly affecting residents, operators, and community owners.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates ombudsman, hearing board, and dispute resolution mechanisms for manufactured home tenants, strengthening tenant protections within affordable housing segment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Tenant Rights

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 7, 2026

HB 2103: An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for the title of the act, for findings and declaration of policy, for right to freedom from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation, for definitions, for unlawful discriminatory practices and for prohibition of certain real estate practices; providing for protection of religious exercise; and further providing for powers and duties of the commission and for construction and exclusiveness of remedy.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to clarify that religious or fraternal organizations cannot restrict membership based on race, color, national origin, or ancestry to deny equal access to housing, employment, or public accommodations. It specifically updates Section 5(h)(10) to explicitly prohibit such discrimination under the guise of religious or fraternal affiliation. The change directly affects religious institutions, fraternal organizations, and housing providers operating under existing exemptions. The amendment takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination by religious/fraternal organizations under PA Human Relations Act, aligning with tenant protection and equal access to housing.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends PA Human Relations Act to prohibit religious/fraternal orgs from discriminating in employment based on race/color/national origin, directly protecting workers' rights under employment standards.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 343: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in tenement buildings and multiple dwelling premises, further providing for definitions and providing for borrowing requirements, for abandonment of residential rental property and for maintenance by receiver; and imposing penalties.

HB 343 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to strengthen tenant protections in tenement and multiple-dwelling rental properties. It defines "abandoned" property (when landlords fail to make timely repairs, respond to tenant concerns, or fix code violations) and requires lenders to notify tenants and verify property habitability before approving home equity loans. Tenants can petition municipalities to investigate abandonment, which may lead to civil penalties covering rehabilitation costs. If a property enters receivership, a court-appointed receiver must maintain habitability and notify local authorities, who can impose penalties for noncompliance. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, lenders, and municipalities managing residential rental properties.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStrengthens tenant protections by defining abandonment, requiring lender habitability verification, and enabling tenant petitions for municipal investigation of unsafe properties.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2026

SB 746: An Act amending the act of November 24, 1976 (P.L.1176, No.261), known as the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act, providing for residents' right to purchase manufactured home community; and further providing for remedies.

SB 746 gives residents of manufactured home communities in Pennsylvania the right to purchase their community when it's sold. When a community owner plans to sell, they must notify all residents, the resident association (if one exists), and local housing agencies at least 90 days in advance, detailing the sale price and terms. Residents represented by a group owning at least 25% of spaces can then submit a competing offer within 90 days, forcing the owner to pause other sales for 120 days while they prepare their offer and negotiate in good faith. The bill also adds legal remedies, allowing residents to seek court action to stop non-compliant sales within 90 days of the transfer. This directly affects manufactured home residents and community owners across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingSB 746 strengthens tenant protections by granting manufactured home residents preemptive right to purchase their community, preventing displacement and maintaining affordable housing stability in a key housing sector.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 286: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assessments of persons and property, providing for senior citizen property tax freeze.

HB 286 allows Pennsylvania seniors meeting specific criteria to lock their property tax payments at the "base year" amount. To qualify, applicants must be at least 65 years old (or meet widow/widower/disabled criteria), live in their home for 10+ years, and have household income under $45,000 annually. Political subdivisions would implement the program through annual applications requiring proof of ownership, tax payment history, and income eligibility. The Department of Revenue would track participation and submit a legislative report by 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax freeze for seniors with income under $45k, offering tax relief to lower-income group per bill's eligibility criteria.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax freeze for seniors, preventing housing cost increases for vulnerable homeowners and promoting housing stability within affordable housing framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 1095: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in dockets, indices and other records, providing for limited access to eviction information; and requiring the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to process records.

HB 1095 modifies Pennsylvania court records to limit public access to eviction information in dockets and indices. It directly affects tenants, landlords, and court clerks by restricting how eviction history is shared while requiring the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to process these records under the new rules. The key provision creates a "limited access" system for eviction data, meaning the public cannot freely view these records as they currently can. This change applies specifically to eviction-related court documents within the state's judicial system. The bill passed the House on June 23, 2025, and was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRestricts public access to eviction records, reducing tenant discrimination risks and strengthening tenant protections per bill's limited access provision.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 876: An Act providing for the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

SB 876 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, which provides funding to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing. The program requires grants to address habitability, improve energy/water efficiency, or increase accessibility for units owned by households earning no more than 120% of the area median income. Grants cannot exceed $50,000 per unit and may cover up to 10% of funds for administrative costs. Local governments must apply with detailed plans showing how funds will meet these requirements, with applications reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for housing rehabilitation grants targeting low-income households (≤120% AMI), directing budget resources toward affordable housing program as a public service.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly funds energy efficiency improvements in housing rehabilitation for low-income households, directly advancing energy efficiency goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes grant program funding rehab of affordable housing units (≤120% AMI) for habitability, efficiency, and accessibility, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Historic Preservation Homeownership

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 5, 2025

HB 1882: An Act amending Title 7 (Banks and Banking) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in mortgage loan industry licensing and consumer protection, further providing for definitions, for exceptions to license requirements and for general requirements.

HB 1882 updates Pennsylvania's rules for mortgage lenders and strengthens consumer protections in the mortgage industry. It revises licensing requirements for mortgage loan originators, clarifies exemptions from needing a license, and adds specific safeguards for borrowers. The bill directly affects mortgage lenders operating in Pennsylvania and consumers applying for mortgage loans by changing how lenders must be licensed and what protections must be provided. These changes aim to streamline licensing while ensuring borrowers receive clearer information and fairer treatment during the mortgage process.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens mortgage consumer protections and lender licensing, preventing predatory lending that impacts housing affordability and borrower safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mortgages

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 673: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in fiscal supplements to statutory programs, establishing a tracking system for publicly financed housing.

SB 673 establishes a public tracking system for housing in Pennsylvania that receives government financial assistance. It requires the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to create and maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online database. This database will include property addresses, anticipated termination dates for affordability restrictions, and information on potential extensions. PHFA must also submit annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly detailing properties with expiring affordability restrictions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes public tracking system for publicly financed housing to monitor affordability restrictions and extensions, ensuring transparency and long-term affordability compliance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

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